Raman Spectroscopy

Definition

Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that depends on the inelastic scattering of photons. It is useful for identifying the presence of specific molecular groups within a solid, liquid, or gaseous sample. Raman spectroscopy is widely considered to be a complementary technique to infrared spectroscopy (although Raman spectroscopy can be carried out at infrared wavelengths), but Raman spectroscopy is typically preferred in studies of inorganic carbon. Specifically, Raman spectroscopy can be used to detect double- and triple-bonded carbon groups, which are invisible to standard infrared spectroscopic techniques. The ability to detect carbon-bearing molecules, coupled with the submicron spatial resolution of modern Raman microspectroscopic imagers, makes Raman spectroscopy an important technique for studying microfossils. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy is nondestructive, so it makes an excellent tool for classifying the mineralogy and microtextures of...